Properties of Graphene/Waterborne Polyurethane Nanocomposites Cast from Colloidal Dispersion Mixtures

Nanocomposites of waterborne polyurethane (WPU) reinforced with functionalized graphene sheets (FGSs) were effectively prepared by casting from a colloidal dispersion of FGS and WPU, and the morphology and physical properties were examined. The finer aqueous FGS dispersions or WPU with smaller particles yielded nanocomposites with enhanced electrical conductivity and thermal resistance due to finely dispersed FGS. The FGS nucleated the crystallization of the polycaprolactone (PCL) segments in WPU and improved its modulus. However, FGS inhibited crystal growth and deteriorated the tensile properties at high deformation, i.e., tensile strength and elongation at break, because the interaction between FGS and WPU hindered the chain rearrangement of WPU in the nanocomposite.     

Solid phase synthesis of benzamidine-derived sulfonamide libraries

Using solid phase synthesis, a library has been constructed of benzamidine-derived sulfonamides which have strong inhibitory activity against blood coagulant thrombin. The library compounds were obtained in good yield and high purity. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of hysteretic and aerodynamic damping on supersonic panel flutter of composite plates

The governing equation for the finite element analysis of the panel flutter of composite plates including structural damping is derived from Hamilton's principle. The first order shear deformable plate theory has been applied to structural modelling so as to obtain the finite element eigenvalue equation. The unsteady aerodynamic load in a supersonic flow is computed by using the linear piston theory. The critical dynamic pressures for composite plates have been calculated to investigate the effects of structural damping on flutter boundaries. The effects are dependent on fiber orientation because flutter mode can be weak or strong in the fiber orientation of composite plates. Structural damping plays an important role in flutter stability with low aerodynamic damping but would not affect the flutter boundary with high aerodynamic damping.     

A high isolation W-band MMIC drain type cascode single balanced mixer

We present a high isolation W-band MMIC drain type cascode single balanced mixer of high LO-to-RF isolation and wide band with conversion characteristic using the high directivity monolithic tandem couplers and 0.1 μm GaAs-based metamorphic high electron mobility transistors (MHEMTs). The fabricated mixer consists of two cascode MHEMT mixers and two tandem couplers using the air-bridge crossovers. We establish a drain type cascode mixer structure where the LO signal is applied to the drain port in the mixing component of common source MHEMT circuit. The tandem coupler exhibits good couplings (2.92-3.8 dB), low return losses (−32.7 dB), and isolations (15.4-39.2 dB) in a wide bandwidth of 75-110 GHz. The mixer shows a conversion loss of 9.8 dB at 94 GHz, an output P1dB of −14.8 dBm at LO frequency of 94.542 GHz, and LO-to-RF isolations of 29.5-39.5 dB at 94-100 GHz.     

Nonlinear optical characteristics of monolayer MoSe2

In this study, we utilized picosecond pulses from an Nd:YAG laser to investigate the nonlinear optical characteristics of monolayer MoSe₂. Two‐step growth involving the selenization of pulsed‐laser‐deposited MoO₃ film was employed to yield the MoSe₂ monolayer on a SiO₂/Si substrate. Raman scattering, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy verified the high optical quality of the monolayer. The second‐order susceptibility χ⁽²⁾ was calculated to be ～50 pm V^?1 at the second harmonic wavelength ～810 nm, which is near the optical gap of the monolayer. Interestingly, our wavelength‐dependent second harmonic scan can identify the bound excitonic states including negatively charged excitons much more efficiently, compared with the PL method at room temperature. Additionally, the MoSe₂ monolayer exhibits a strong laser‐induced damage threshold ～16 GW cm^?2 under picosecond‐pulse excitation_. Our findings suggest that monolayer MoSe₂ can be considered as a promising candidate for high‐power, thin‐film‐based nonlinear optical devices and applications.     

Blood analysis by Raman spectroscopy

Concentrations of multiple analytes were simultaneously measured in whole blood with clinical accuracy, without sample processing, using near-infrared Raman spectroscopy. Spectra were acquired with an instrument employing nonimaging optics, designed using Monte Carlo simulations of the influence of light-scattering-absorbing blood cells on the excitation and emission of Raman light in turbid medium. Raman spectra were collected from whole blood drawn from 31 individuals. Quantitative predictions of glucose, urea, total protein, albumin, triglycerides, hematocrit, and hemoglobin were made by means of partial least-squares (PLS) analysis with clinically relevant precision (r(2) values >0.93). The similarity of the features of the PLS calibration spectra to those of the respective analyte spectra illustrates that the predictions are based on molecular information carried by the Raman light. This demonstrates the feasibility of using Raman spectroscopy for quantitative measurements of biomolecular contents in highly light-scattering and absorbing media.     

The monotonic property and stability of solutions of fractional differential equations

In this paper we improve on the monotone property of Lemma 1.7.3 in Lakshmikantham et al. (2009) [5] for the case g(t,u)=λu with a nonnegative real number λ. We also investigate the Mittag-Leffler stability of solutions of fractional differential equations by using the fractional comparison principle.     

Influence of TiO2 nanotube morphology and TiCl4 treatment on the charge transfer in dye-sensitized solar cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs), TiO₂ nanotube arrays (NTAs), and surface-modified NTAs with a TiCl₄ treatment. The photovoltaic efficiencies of the DSSCs using TiO₂ NP, NTA, and TiCl₄-treated NTA electrodes are 4.25, 4.74, and 7.47 %, respectively. The highest performance was observed with a TiCl₄-treated TiO₂ NTA photoanode, although in the case of the latter two electrodes, the amounts of N719 dye adsorbed were similar and 68 % of that of the NP electrode. Electrochemical impedance measurements show that the overall resistance, including the charge–transfer resistance, was smaller with NTA morphologies than with NP morphologies. We suggest that a different electron transfer mechanism along the one-dimensional nanostructure of the TiO₂ NTAs contributes to the smaller charge–transfer resistance, resulting in a higher short circuit current (J _sc), even at lower dye adsorption. Furthermore, the TiCl₄-treated NTAs showed even smaller charge–transfer resistance, resulting in the highest J _sc value, because the downward shift in the conduction band edge improves the electron injection efficiency from the excited dye into the TiCl₄-treated TiO₂ electrodes.     

Selective surface reactions for Janus ORMOSIL particles with multiple functional groups using an ordered monolayer film at liquid-liquid interface

Monodispersed, submicron-sized Janus ORMOSIL particles with multiple functional groups were prepared by the selective surface reaction of a monolayer film formed at a hexane-water interface. A well-ordered monolayer film was obtained by self-assembly of ORMOSIL particles with multiple functional groups at hexane-water interface. The photopolymerization of an ordered monolayer containing ORMOSIL particles yields a rigid film strong enough to maintain its integrity for transfer and further chemical reaction. The chemical reaction of this ordered film with organic and inorganic functional groups produced Janus ORMOSIL particles with multiple functional groups. The morphologies, structures, and chemical compositions of monolayer films and Janus ORMOSIL particles were characterized by FT-IR, solid state NMR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), electron microscopies (SEM and TEM), and confocal laser scanning microscopy.     

Spin dimer analysis of the spin exchange interactions in paramelaconite Cu(4)O(3) and its analogue Ag(2)Cu(2)O(3) and the spin ordering of the Cu(2)O(3) spin lattice leading to their magnetic phase transitions

The magnetic structures of the Cu(2)O(3) spin lattices present in Cu(4)O(3) and Ag(2)Cu(2)O(3) were analyzed by studying their spin exchange interactions on the basis of spin dimer analysis. Calculations of spin exchange parameters were calibrated by studying LiCuVO(4) whose intrachain and interchain antiferromagnetic spin exchange parameters are known experimentally. The magnetic phase transition of Cu(4)O(3) at 42.3 K doubles the unit cell along each crystallographic direction. The spin arrangements of the Cu(2)O(3) lattice consistent with this experimental observation are different from conventional antiferromagnetic ordering. Our analysis indicates that spin fluctuation should occur in Cu(4)O(3), low-dimensional magnetism should be more important than magnetic frustration in Cu(4)O(3), and Ag(2)Cu(2)O(3) and Cu(4)O(3) should have similar structural and magnetic properties.